PROCEDURES, FORMS, MANUAL (pdf's)

ATTENDANCE DATA AND REPORTS

Student attendance has been correlated to academic achievement by the U.S. Department of Education. Average Daily Attendance (ADA) for all public schools in Broward County for the 2017/18 school year was 94%. The reports below provide a snapshots of district-wide attendance for all public schools from elementary, middle, high, multi-level schools, and centers.

Chronic absenteeism has been included in the Attendance Brief beginning with the 2016/17 report. Chronic absenteeism is defined as a student missing 10% or more full school days (including absences that are excused, unexcused, or external suspensions). This metric operates as an Early Warning Indicator for students missing days throughout the school year.

Example: In the first 30 days of school, a student that was absent 3 days may receive phone calls from teachers, support from other school staff, and strategies and interventions for the family to help prevent the student from missing too many days before the end of the school year.

Official reports for attendance are created by the Student Assessment and Research Department in collaboration with the Student Services Department and the Coordinator for District Attendance.

ATTENDANCE RECOGNITION: AN EVENING AMONG THE STARS

By special invitation only.Recognition for 2018/19 is scheduled for Thursday, May 9, 2019 at Plantation High School.

Elementary school students will be recognized in 5th grade for perfect attendance from K-5.

Middle school students will be recognized in 8th grade for perfect attendance for grades 6-8.

High school students will be recognized in 12th grade for perfect attendance from grade 9-12.

“Best in Class” – High School senior(s) with the best attendance from K-12.

The District Attendance Committee is comprised of teachers, administrators, parents, students, and support professionals from Broward County Public Schools. The committee has developed criteria for this district-wide attendance recognition event. The committee recognizes the highest level of commitment by students and parents for each grade level from over 200 public schools within Broward County. The committee encourages school-based incentives for improved attendance and outstanding attendance.

Criteria for Student Recognition at “Evening Among the Stars”

Students are continuously enrolled in Broward County Public Schools from K-12 in a non-charter school.

Attendance is not counted for students who have attended a private school or any other public school outside Broward County. Those years cannot be counted toward this attendance recognition.

Attendance is not counted or reported during the time the student is enrolled in a Florida Home Education Program. Those years cannot be counted toward attendance this recognition.

A student who submits satisfactory documentation regarding absences due to the observance of a religious holiday, or because the tenets of that student’s religion forbid secular activity, should not be disqualified from the attendance recognition/awards/incentives at the district level.

“BEST IN CLASS”: The best attendance for all grades K-12. Considered for seniors only. Best attendance does not necessarily mean perfect attendance.

Perfect attendance recognition in levels K-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Combination schools will be recognized at each level. (Children in a K-8 center will be recognized for attendance in K-5 and 6-8.)

Data for District eligibility is compiled at the completion of the 3rd marking period for the school year of the recognition (grades 5, 8, and 12).

For exceptions not meeting the listed criteria for “Best in Class,” the District Attendance Committee may consider students on a case-by-case basis. The parent or guardian should contact the Coordinator for District Attendance to initiate a panel review by February 1 of the child’s senior year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my child make up work for any absences?

Make up work is allowed for full credit and grade for excused absences within guidelines for Policy 6000.1: Student Progression Plan.

Make-up work is allowed for unexcused absences with the following stipulations:

Elementary Schools: Make-up work is allowed for full credit and grade, submitted within two days of each absence. Previously assigned work is due the day of return.

Middle Schools: Make-up work is allowed for full credit and grade. For high school courses taken at the middle school level, high school guidelines below apply.

High Schools: Make-up work is allowed for unexcused absences. Teachers may, at their discretion, record a 10% reduction in the grade for tests and major projects that meet standards or proficiency. At their discretion, teachers may record the lowest passing grade (i.e. “D” or “60”) for homework assignments, unless less than 50% of the work was successfully completed.

How much time does my child have to submit make-up work?

Make-up work must be submitted within two days, not including the day of return, for each day of an absence. Previously assigned work is due the day of return. Under extenuating circumstances and at teacher’s discretion, additional time may be allowed.

Will the teachers provide my child with the make-up work?

Teachers will have the make-up work available, but it is the student and family’s responsibility to get the make-up work. Options include accessing the work on-line, picking up the work at school, or by getting notes and assignments from classmates.

Is there a deadline to get absences excused?

Parents have 2 days (48 hours) in which to report, i.e. the day before, the day of and the day after the absence.

What should I do if the school records my child’s absence as unexcused when it was an excused absence?

Immediately contact the school and provide documentation with a request to have the absence corrected. Follow up with the school administrator if necessary.

What are the acceptable reasons for an excused absence?

The Attendance Policy allows eight reasons for an absence to be excused. The reasons are:

illness of student,

illness of an immediate family member,

death in the family,

religious holidays of the student’s own faith,

required court appearance,

special event,

scheduled medical or dental appointment,

or student having, or suspected of having a communicable disease.

Can my 18-year-old student sign himself out of school?

No. Regardless of age, parents are responsible for providing excusal for absences, tardiness, and early sign-outs for their child.

How do I ensure that the school has my current contact information?

Immediately notify the registrar and/or school counselor at your school if your telephone number and/or address changes.

Nov. 28, 2018At least 40 percent of California school districts and charter schools have rates of chronic absence in grades K-8 that are high or very high based on new performance measures that will be unveiled next month as part of the state’s updated school accountability system, known as the California School Dashboard.

Over the past decade, chronic absence has gone from being a virtually unknown concept to a national education metric that provides every school in the nation with critical data on how many students are missing so many days of school it jeopardizes their academic success. The inclusion of chronic absence in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was a watershed moment that made this metric an integral component of efforts to help students succeed in school and later in life.

The Miami Marlins today announced further details regarding its Good Student Program, a new community ticket program and core pillar of the organization's Baseball For Kids partnership with J.P. Morgan. The Good Student Program's inaugural edition in 2018 will recognize K-12 students in the public school systems of Miami-Dade County and Broward County who achieved perfect attendance and/or straight A grades during the 2017/2018 academic year.